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September 25, 2010 | Volume 3, Issue 4

In This Issue 8

President/Publisher

Pregame Preview

Exclusive: Special Teams

Exclusive: Ryan Mallett

Player Spotlight: Cade Foster

Rosters

Larry's Lowdown

Pro Connections: Rolando McClain

Tide Trivia

Recruit of the Week: Quinton Dial

Tailgater of the Week

Recruiting

SEC News

Showing Pride in the Tide

Staff

Editor-in-Chief

Bennie Bice Mike Lacy

Managing Editor Copyeditor Photography

Jessica Temple Micah Phillips BDL Matt Gaston Tim Bailey

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Jenifer McCormick Cassandra Johnson Antonio Rogers Tramayne Wright Brian LaShomb Carey Landon Eric Hudson Herb Neu Mike Long 205-901-3166

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Writers

Jessica Brown Larry Burton Troy Farsoun Jennifer Gorham Haley Namie Mike Parker Coe Robbins Donald Staffo Chris Tubbs Thomas Watts

Reporters

Johnathan McMath T.J. Paysinger

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Letter from the Editors: Dear Fans, With the first road success of the season on the books, the Tide takes on their first in-conference challenge of 2010 this week. To the many of you made the long trip to Durham for the Duke game, thanks for showing your support! UA had an excellent showing and seeing all that crimson in the stands was comforting for those of us who couldn’t make it in person. If you’re on the road to Arkansas this week, we wish you a safe trip, and we hope you’ll be celebrating a win all the way home! After the Tide rolls over the Razorbacks, they’re back in Tuscaloosa next week to host the Florida Gators, so we’ll be

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“Touchdown Alabama Magazine was created to bring Alabama football fans the coverage of their team that they crave and expect, as well as to bring them closer to the action on the field. The University of Alabama has a long college football history, rich with tradition. Each season has added more dynamic players and colorful stories to the Alabama family. It is only fitting that a program with 13 National Championships should have a weekly magazine dedicated to conveying the excitement of the game to its devoted fans. Touchdown Alabama Magazine strives to be the most up-to-date, relevant and exciting magazine covering University of Alabama football. Furthermore, we guarantee in-depth articles, exclusive interviews and quality content surrounding the Crimson Tide. We will never forget who we generate this magazine for... you, the fan. God bless.”

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| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA September 25, 2010

Pregame Preview

Ready for Arkansas

Pregame Preview Thomas Watts

-of-33 for 380 yards and three touchdowns. Those are the stats that Ryan Mallett, the Arkansas Razorbacks’ starting quarterback, put up last week against the Georgia Bulldogs. One of those touchdown passes sealed a 31-24 victory for the Hogs with 15 seconds left to go in the fourth. The Tide continues its road trip this Saturday when it travels to Fayetteville, Ark., to face the No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks. The two teams have met every year since Arkansas joined the SEC in 1992. The game has traditionally been seen as the first early test for both programs. Alabama holds a 12-7 lead in the series. The Crimson Tide also has a three game winning streak. Alabama won a wild game in 2007 on a late TD pass from John Parker Wilson to Matt Caddell, finishing 41-38. The last two games haven’t been nearly as close. Alabama flattened the Hogs 49-14 in Fayetteville in 2008, and blasted Arkansas 35-7 last year in Tuscaloosa. The Tide’s offense didn’t look too shabby last week against the Duke Blue Devils. Alabama put up over 600 yards for the first time in 20 years, and put up over 60 points for the first time in nearly 25 years. The offensive explosion began on the first play from scrimmage, Mark Ingram’s 48 yard rumble down the sideline, and didn’t end until

fifth-string running back Jalston Fowler pounded the hapless Blue Devils for 48 yards on 6 carries near the end of the game. Greg McElroy’s 258 yards on 14 completions upped his efficiency rating to 200.03, the best in the NCAA. All of the offense will put both defenses to the test. Luckily for the

Tide, defensive end Marcel Dareus is back from suspension to provide a much needed boost to the front seven. The young Crimson Tide secondary played well last week. The group limited Duke’s potent passing game to under two hundred yards. The secondary will need to turn in another strong performance against the Arkansas aerial assault. The defense did have some trouble with

Duke’s small, quick backs. Arkansas doesn’t have a strong scat back, though. The Razorbacks rely on bruisers Ronnie Wingo Jr. and Broderick Green. Both athletes are loads, at over 240 pounds. Both of these loads were effectively contained, however, by Georgia’s defense. The Arkansas defense hasn’t faced very many tests, and the few the unit has faced, it almost failed. The Razorbacks’ first two games were glorified scrimmages against Tennessee Tech and Louisiana-Monroe. The defense held both of these teams to under ten points, but the defense then allowed Georgia to score 14 unanswered points to tie the game in the fourth quarter. The important thing is how Georgia managed to score so much so quickly. Georgia had several long pass plays, and then simply ran over Arkansas for their two touchdowns. Georgia was missing A.J. Green and doesn’t have the backfield that Alabama does, so expect a big game from Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson and Julio Jones. In the end, Alabama’s offense is every bit as potent as the Razorbacks’, and Bama’s defense is far better than the Hogs’. The only thing that can stop Alabama in this game is Alabama. Barring a plethora of turnovers and other mistakes, the Tide should roll out of Fayetteville the victors.

touchdownalabama.net |

Exclusive

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA September 25, 2010

Troy Farsoun

Are Alabama's Special Teams Still Special?

he loss of nine starters on defense was the primary focus of off-season analysis for the Crimson Tide, as skeptics worried that Nick Saban could not field a team quite like the one from 2009. But with so much attention given to the task of replacing those touted players, fans and critics alike seemed to forget about the squad that lost every veteran from a year ago: the special teams. The special teams made household names of players like return man Javier Arenas and kicker Leigh Tiffin. Arenas went on to shatter school records and nearly broke the all-time NCAA record for punt and kickoff return yardage. Tiffin went down as the Tide's leading scorer and helped Alabama out of numerous jams when the offense stalled. Experienced punter P.J. Fitzgerald was adept at keeping Bama's own return yard statistics down, and even Brian Selman at the underrated position of long-snapper was flawless throughout his career. With all of them now gone, the responsibility falls to a new group of recruits to carry the Tide's special teams. A familiar face takes over Javier Arenas' spot at returner: star receiver Julio Jones. Though Jones has been plagued by nagging injuries throughout his career, the Foley, Ala., native returns to the Crimson Tide healthy and prepared to take over return duties. If he proves to be as dangerous at returning footballs as he is at catching them, opponents will be quick to boot the ball out of bounds rather than put it into his capable hands. Fans were given an early preview and a surprise on September 4, when lowly San Jose State managed to stall an Alabama drive in the second quarter, forcing the punting unit to jog onto the field. New punter Cody Mandell calmly waited in the backfield at the Tide's own 24, and gave the signal. The ball was snapped, and Mandell blasted it 52 yards on his first try,

PHOTO BY MATT GASTON

drawing surprised cheers from fans. Stunned onlookers had never seen that kind of distance from Fitzgerald and wondered briefly if it was just a fluke. As the offense again stalled on Bama's ensuing possession, he answered with another 50+ yard punt that never yielded San Jose State an inch of field position. Though fans would prefer not to see too many punts from the Tide's explosive offense this season, having Mandell at the punter position is not an area of concern. Both Cade Foster and Jeremy Shelley have big shoes to fill in taking over for Leigh Tiffin. Foster was perfect in his game against San Jose State, while Shelley took over kicking duties against Penn State and never missed. Both kickers have been sharing time at the position, as there has not been a clear front-runner just yet. After this Saturday's game at Duke, however, both kickers will be given the same trial that nearly foiled Tiffin's career in 2006: playing against SEC foe Arkansas at Razorback Stadium. Filling in for an injured Jamie Christenson, Tiffin came into the game an inexperienced freshman in a hostile environment, missing several field goals and an extra point in overtime to give the Razorbacks a 24-23 victory over the Tide. That loss would be the first of many that led to the firing of head coach Mike Shula, and many Alabama fans never forgot his poor performance that day. Whoever is named the kicker for the Tide will nevertheless have a mountain of expectation and pressure to perform at the highest level and never again repeat that part of history. Though the special teams members from the elite 2009 squad are gone, Nick Saban seems to have reloaded the team with a group of talented players. As the 2010 season wears on, it will be their turn to prove that this is one area of the team that needs no rebuilding. touchdownalabama.net |

Exclusive

Defense Faces a Major Test Against Mallett

Coe Robbins

his 2010 squad should really take notes from last year’s game in Tuscaloosa because it seems like the perfect plan for stopping a Heisman candidate. That 2009 game had Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett entering as the top passer in the country through two games. It was easily the worst game of Mallett’s season, however, with the quarterback only throwing for 160 yards on 12 of 35 completions. The Bama defense wreaked havoc on Mallett all day, disguising blitzes and showing very little on what the defense was bringing. The Arkansas offense was 2-for-14 that day in third down efficiency and gave up 11 penalties. This year, the Tide defense through two games has not yielded one touchdown. Also through two games, Alabama ranks fifth in the country in passing efficiency and has a turnover margin of 1.5. Against Penn State, the defense had a bend-but-don’t-break mentality, giving up a few big plays on offense but creating turnovers in the red zone, something Alabama lacked last year. In the Nittany Lions’ three opportunities in the red zone, Alabama created an interception put on by a hard blitz and a fumble recovery, merely giving up a field goal for Penn State’s only points. So the blueprint is set on how to stop Mallett; it’s just a matter of execution by this young secondary in what will be a very hostile environment. Mallett is also no slouch when it comes to playing in front of his home crowd. In his 2009 campaign, 25 of Mallett’s 30 touchdown passes and 71 percent of his total yards for the season all 12

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA September 25, 2010

came at home. No wonder they call it home sweet home. And when you play last year’s national champion, the current number one team in the country, with motivation to get vindication from last year’s embarrassing performance, it’s all the more reason for the Razorbacks and their fans to circle this game on their calendar. The Batesville, Ark., native has seen his ups and downs throughout his football career. Mallett was considered the second best quarterback of the 2007 class out of high school, according to Rivals.com. He eventually committed to Michigan and saw some action his first year with the maize and blue. However, a coaching transition and different style of play on offense forced Mallett to transfer. Mallett decided that he would play for his state’s university and gain valuable knowledge under offensive guru and new head coach Bobby Petrino. The table is now set for what will be the most intriguing matchup of the season both for the Tide and the Razorbacks. Will the defense follow the blueprint in slowing down Mallett and his abilities from last year? Or will Mallett end the Tide’s 26-game regular season win streak? We will watch it all unfold come Saturday. PHOTOS FROM BRYANT MUSEUM

Player Spotlight

Freshman Kicker Experienced on Both Side of the Ball Foster proves himself in more ways than one

Haley Namie

reshman Cade Foster is considered one of the top overall kickers in the nation. The 6-foot-1-inch, 221 pound place kicker was considered a four-star prospect by Scout.com, the No. 3-rated kicker in the 2010 class, No. 11 place-kicker nationally by Rivals.com and the No. 12 kicker according to ESPNU. Foster played in the 2010 U.S. Army All American Game. Foster is from Southlake, Texas, and attended Southlake Carroll High School, the same school as Greg McElroy. Foster was a first-team selection for both the APSE Class 5A All-State team and the TOC Class 5A DFW All-Area Team in 2009. He connected on 38 of 48 field goals during his high school career and was 10-for-10 on field goal attempts in 2009, including three kicks of 45 yards or longer. Foster’s career long was 49 yards. He made 57 of 58 extra point attempts as a senior for the Dragons. Foster also started as middle linebacker and finished with 106 tackles, which included six tackles for loss and six sacks. In 2008, as a junior, Foster made 6 of 8 field goals attempted. As a freshman, in 2006, and a sophomore, in 2007, Foster hit on 11 of 15 kicks. He chose to join the Crimson Tide over offers from Colorado, Stanford, UCLA and Washington. Since Foster also played defense, people questioned whether or not a kicker who can tackle would be assigned a lane on kickoff coverage. Coach Nick Saban weighed in on the possibility. "He's a safety,” Saban said. “He has a responsibility to leverage the ball, relative to the rest of the kick coverage group.” But he did acknowledge that Foster’s multi-faceted background could be an asset for Alabama. “Cade was a linebacker in high school,” he noted. “He is a football player, is very aggressive and he has made several tackles on kickoff coverage, and that's a benefit because that's an area that we need to improve on. I think we're better than we were at this time last year in kickoff coverage but still not as effective as we need to be." The kicker had one unassisted tackle in each of the first two games and an assist against Duke. He has also made contributions with his kicking abilities. Foster made two field goals, a PHOTO BY MATT GASTON

41-yarder to end the first half and a 24-yard kick in the third quarter, and scored two PATs in the second half of Alabama’s 48-3 rout of San Jose State. Saban was impressed with Foster’s performance in his first game. “[Foster] did a really good job on special teams…not just in the four kicking attempts that he had, field goals or extra points, but also did a really good job kicking off and did a good job as a coverage guy on the kickoff.” Foster attempted two kicks against Penn State, but was unsuccessful. Echoing his opening performance, Foster made a 44-yard field goal just before halftime and a 21-yarder in the third quarter, then finished up with two extra points, bringing the final score to 62-13 in last week’s win over Duke. touchdownalabama.net |

Alabama Football Roster NO NAME 82 Earl Alexander 19 Jonathan Atchison 31 John Baites 4 Mark Barron 7 Kenny Bell 86 Undra Billingsley 69 David Blalock 93 Chris Bonds 67 John Michael Boswell 88 Michael Bowman 37 Hardie Buck 87 Drew Bullard 34 Hunter Bush 20 Nate Carlson 77 James Carpenter 33 Caleb Castille 99 Josh Chapman 57 Marcell Dareus 96 Luther Davis 51 Michael DeJohn 85 Preston Dial 40 DeMarcus DuBose 13 Rob Ezell 76 D.J. Fluker 43 Cade Foster 45 Jalston Fowler 10 John Fulton 95 Colin Gallagher 58 Nick Gentry 6 Demetrius Goode 25 Corey Grant 23 Robby Green 15 Darius Hanks 54 Glenn Harbin 48 Rowdy Harrell 5 Jerrell Harris 30 Dont’a Hightower 15 Mark Holt 21 Ben Howell 42 Adrian Hubbard 22 Mark Ingram 62 Brandon Ivory 35 Nico Johnson 57 Aaron Joiner 75 Barrett Jones 40 Harrison Jones 8 Julio Jones 9 Phelon Jones 36 Chris Jordan 43 Sam Kearns 26 Kendall Kelly 10 J.B. Kern 21 Dre Kirkpatrick 59 Arie Kouandjio 42 Eddie Lacy 37 Robert Lester 95 Brandon Lewis 78 Chad Lindsay 72 Tyler Love

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WT 207 228 235 210 172 269 255 263 291 225 184 232 181 230 300 163 310 306 279 237 237 240 172 340 221 236 179 194 282 191 186 181 184 260 213 231 260 172 193 227 215 335 238 258 301 235 220 199 232 156 214 232 190 335 212 206 274 277 304

HOMETOWN LAST SCHOOL Phenix City, Ala. Central Atlanta, Ga. Douglass Hendersonville, Tenn. Beech Mobile, Ala. St. Paul’s Rayville, La. Rayville Birmingham, Ala. Woodlawn Charlotte, N.C. Providence Columbia, S.C. Richland Northeast Northport, Ala. Tuscaloosa County Rossville, Ga. Ridgeland Birmingham, Ala. Vestavia Hills Florence, Ala. Florence Wetumpka, Ala. Wetumpka Birmingham, Ala. Air Force Augusta, Ga. Coffeyville CC Birmingham, Ala. Briarwood Christian Hoover, Ala. Hoover Huffman, Ala. Huffman West Monroe, La. West Monroe Hoover, Ala. Hoover Mobile, Ala. UMS-Wright Montgomery, Ala. Jefferson Davis Athens, Ala. Athens Foley, Ala. Foley Southlake, Texas Southlake Carroll HS Mobile, Ala. Vigor Manning, S.C. Manning Atlanta, Ga. Marist Prattville, Ala. Prattville LaGrange, Ga. Hargrave Academy Opelika, Ala. Opelika New Orleans, La. John Curtis Christian Norcross, Ga. Norcross SQ Mobile, Ala. McGill-Toolen Moundville, Ala. Hale County Gadsden, Ala. Gadsden City Lewisburg, Tenn. Marshall County Muscle Shoals, Ala. Muscle Shoals Gordo, Ala. Gordo Lawrenceville, Ga. Norcross Flint, Mich. Southwestern Academy Memphis, Tenn. East Andalusia, Ala. Andalusia Florence, Ala. Florence Memphis, Tenn. Evangelical Christian Germantown, Tenn. Evangelical Christian Foley, Ala. Foley Moblie, Ala. LSU Brentwood, Tenn. Brentwood Academy Mobile, Ala. McGill-Toolen Gadsden, Ala. Gadsden City Dove Canyon, Calif. Mission Viejo Gadsden, Ala. Gadsden City Beltsville, Md. DeMatha Catholic Geismar, La. Dutchtown Foley, Ala. Foley Pleasant Grove, Ala. East Mississippi CC The Woodlands, Texas The Woodlands Mountain Brook, Ala. Mountain Brook

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA September 25, 2010

NO NAME 29 Will Lowery 7 Keiwone Malone 32 Cody Mandell 33 Mike Marrow 4 Marquis Maze 24 Nathan McAlister 10 A.J. McCarron 52 Alfred McCullough 12 Greg McElroy 24 DeQuan Menzie 28 DeMarcus Milliner 56 William Ming 97 Brandon Moore 32 C.J. Mosley 66 Brian Motley 64 Kerry Murphy 46 Wesley Neighbors 83 Kevin Norwood 18 Morgan Ogilvie 53 Anthony Orr 2 Tana Patrick 39 Kyle Pennington 27 Nick Perry 3 Trent Richardson 74 David Ross 1 B.J. Scott 94 Darrington Sentimore 90 Jeremy Shelley 79 Austin Shepherd 18 Blake Sims 14 Phillip Sims 71 Allen Skelton 17 Brad Smelley 38 Petey Smith 92 Damion Square 61 Anthony Steen 47 Ed Stinson 46 William Strickland 47 Logan Thomas 51 Carson Tinker 26 Nick Tinker 87 Chris Underwood 41 Courtney Upshaw 73 William Vlachos 84 Brian Vogler 65 Chance Warmack 91 Alex Watkins 49 Ranzell Watkins 2 DeAndrew White 55 Chavis Williams 60 David Williams 20 Jarrick Williams 44 Jay Williams 63 Kellen Williams 89 Michael Williams 9 Nick Williams

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WT 188 165 201 235 182 165 190 309 225 195 182 263 305 225 289 319 205 187 198 268 231 188 193 220 302 193 261 165 307 195 214 261 227 250 284 292 252 188 206 220 215 238 263 289 242 300 232 168 180 223 267 203 208 307 270 179

HOMETOWN LAST SCHOOL Hoover, Ala. Hoover Memphis, Tenn. Mitchell Lafayette, La. Acadiana Holland, Ohio Central Catholic Birmingham, Ala. Tarrant Russellville, Ala. Russellville Mobile, Ala. St. Paul’s Episcopal School Athens, Ala. Athens Southlake, Texas Southlake Carroll Columbus, Ga. Copiah-Lincoln CC Millbrook, Ala. Stanhope Elmore Athens, Ala. Athens Montgomery, Ala. Carver Theodore, Ala. Theodore Autaugaville, Ala. Autaugaville Hoover, Ala. Hargrave/Hoover Huntsville, Ala. Huntsville D’Iberville, Miss. D’Iberville Mountain Brook, Ala. Mountain Brook Madison, Ala. Sparkman Bridgeport, Ala. North Jackson Chatom, Ala. Washington County Prattville, Ala. Prattville Pensacola, Fla. Escambia Homewood, Ala. Homewood Prichard, Ala. Vigor Norco, La. Destrehan Raleigh, N.C. Broughton Buford, Ga. North Gwinnett Gainesville, Ga. Gainesville Chesapeake, Va. Oscar Smith Coker, Ala. Tuscaloosa County Tuscaloosa, Ala. American Christian Tampa, Fla. Armwood Houston, Texas Yates Lambert, Miss. Lee Academy Homestead, Fla. South Dade Tuscaloosa, Ala. Northridge Houston, Texas Cyrpress Creek Murfreesboro, Tenn. Riverdale Ralph, Ala. Tuscaloosa County Vestavia Hills, Ala. Vestavia Hills Eufaula, Ala. Eufaula Birmingham, Ala. Mountain Brook Columbus, Ga. Brookstone Atlanta, Ga. Westlake Brownsville, Tenn. Haywood Charlotte, N.C. Independence Houston, Texas North Shore Dora, Ala. Dora Duncanville, Ala. Hillcrest Mobile, Ala. Blount Thomasville, Ala. Thomasville Lawrenceville, Ga. Brookwood Reform, Ala. Pickens County Fort Lauderdale, Fla. St. Thomas Aquinas

Arkansas Football Roster NO NAME 3 Joe Adams 58 Damario Ambrose 13 Seth Armbrust 99 Lavunce Askew 67 Alvin Bailey 30 Mitchell Bailey 83 Neal Barlow 50 Stephen Barnett 68 Clay Bemberg 91 Jake Bequette 54 Colby Berna 14 Dylan Breeding 62 Nick Brewer 26 Ramon Broadway 37 Cameron Bryan 46 Freddy Burton 19 Dustin Cain 97 Ryan Calender 28 Alvin Chambers 85 Greg Childs 86 Ben Cleveland 25 Kyle Coleman 94 Will Coleman 72 Grant Cook 50 Robert Cox 4 Rudell Crim 23 De'Anthony Curtis 51 Alfred Davis 39 Jovan Davis 7 Knile Davis 76 Tyler Deacon 73 Ray Dominguez 98 Caleb Evans 88 Ryan Farr 9 Elton Ford 34 Jerry Franklin 79 Grant Freeman 28 Greg Gatson 22 David Gordon 42 Garry Grace 80 Chris Gragg 71 Wade Grayson 29 Broderick Green 96 Jared Green 22 Telvin Griffin 58 Blake Gunderson 11 Cobi Hamilton 32 Bret Harris 53 Derrell Hartwick 84 Price Holmes 69 David Hurd 33 Dennis Johnson

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CLS Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Fr. So. So. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Fr. So. Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Jr So. Sr. Jr. So. So. So. So. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. So. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. So. So. Jr. Jr. So. So. Jr.

HOMETOWN LAST SCHOOL Little Rock, Ark. Central Arkansas Mobile, Ala. Davidson HS Little Rock, Ark. Catholic HS Camden, Ark. Fairview HS Broken Arrow, Okla. Broken Arrow HS Broken Bow, Okla. Broken Bow HS Little Rock, Ark. Pulaski Academy Siloam Springs, Ark. Arkansas Tech Little Rock, Ark. Central HS Little Rock, Ark. Catholic HS Fayetteville, Ark. Fayetteville HS Helena, Ala. Hoover HS Austin, Texas James Bowie HS Shreveport, La. Evangel Christian Acad Oklahoma City, Ok. Bishop McGuinness Morrilton, Ark. Morrilton HS Coppell, Texas Kansas Wesleyan Caddo Mills, Texas Caddo Mills HS Florissant, Mo. St. Louis CC Warren, Ark. Warren HS Springdale, Ark. Springdale HS Checotah, Okla. Checotah HS Helena, Ark. De Soto HS Jonesboro, Ark. Jonesboro HS Bearden, Ark. Central Arkansas Tallahassee, Fla. Butler County [Kan.] CC Camden, Ark. Fairview HS College Park, Ga. Benneker HS Plano, Texas Prestonwood Christian Acad Missouri City, Texas Ft Bend Marshall HS Little Rock, Ark. Little Rock Christ. Acad Bainbridge, Ga. Bainbridge HS Custer, Mont. Palomar College Little Rock, Ark. UAPB Alpharetta, Ga. Chattahoochee HS Marion, Ark. Marion HS Paris, Ark. Paris HS Memphis, Tenn. Germantown HS Tulsa, Okla. East Central HS Alpharetta, Ga. Chattahoochee HS Warren, Ark. Warren HS Harrison, Ark. Harrison HS Little Rock, Ark. USC Little Rock, Ark. Mississippi Valley St Texarkana, Ark. Arkansas HS Rockwall, Texas Abilene Christian Texarkana, Texas Texas HS Irving, Texas MacArthur HS N Little Rock, Ark. N Little Rock HS Batesville, Ark. Batesville HS West Monroe, La. West Monroe HS Texarkana, Ark. Arkansas HS

NO NAME 92 DeQuinta Jones 95 Patrick Jones 1 Anthony Leon 65 DeMarcus Love 53 Jermaine Love 6 Isaac Madison 15 Ryan Mallett 47 Matt Marshall 16 Hunter Miller 17 Brandon Mitchell 38 Jerry Mitchell 55 Austin Moss 30 Thomas Moss 16 Chris Muncie 90 Colton Nash 31 Jerico Nelson 90 Alex Nerney 78 Anthony Oden 60 Seth Oxner 63 Adam Pearce 10 Nick Petrino 41 Ryan Powers 26 Brandon Pyle 35 Ross Rasner 82 Lance Ray 93 Brooks Reimer 59 Rhett Richardson 19 Carlton Salters 21 William Serrano 61 Zach Stadther 36 Andru Stewart 44 Van Stumon 64 Travis Swanson 87 Austin Tate 2 Alex Tejada 5 Tramain Thomas 70 Zhamal Thomas 24 Brandon Tierney 89 Austin Tucker 40 Michael Villegas 18 Jacoby Walker 81 Nick Walters 35 Ronald Watkins 49 Ryan Wilbourn 45 D.J. Williams 25 Terrell Williams 8 Tyler Wilson 20 Ronnie Wingo Jr. 21 Darius Winston 27 Justin Wortman 4 Jarius Wright 43 Tenarius Wright 14 Jim Youngblood

P DT DT S OT LB CB QB LB DB QB S LB CB WR DE S/LB WR OT C DT QB LB FB S WR DE SNP WR WR DT CB FB C TE K S OG K WR LB QB P RB P TE LB QB RB CB WR WR DE TE

HT WT 6-5 307 6-1 309 6-4 227 6-5 315 5-11 230 5-11 185 6-7 238 6-1 230 6-1 200 6-4 230 6-7 214 6-3 227 5-9 185 6-5 185 6-6 261 5-10 205 6-2 210 6-8 328 6-4 315 6-2 256 5-11 190 6-1 223 6-2 240 6-0 205 6-3 207 6-3 265 6-0 214 5-11 205 6-0 200 6-1 295 6-0 200 6-1 266 6-5 305 6-6 246 6-0 205 6-0 187 6-5 343 5-11 185 6-1 195 6-4 230 6-2 212 6-3 213 5-9 185 5-10 160 6-2 251 6-3 237 6-3 215 6-3 227 6-0 185 5-9 170 5-10 180 6-1 241 6-2 225

CLS So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. So. Fr. Fr. So. Jr. So. So. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. So. So. Fr. Fr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Fr Fr Sr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. So. Fr. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. So. So. So. So. So. Jr. So. So.

HOMETOWN LAST SCHOOL Bastrop, La. Bastrop HS Hampton, Ga. Lovejoy HS Miami, Fla. College of the Sequoias Lancaster, Texas Carter HS Garland, Texas North Garland HS Dallas, Texas Carter HS Texarkana, Ark. Texas HS/Michigan Camden, N.J. Camden HS Sherwood, Ark. Northeast Texas CC Amite, La. Amite HS Mandeville, La. Mandeville HS Rockwall, Texas Heath HS Granite Bay, Calif. Granite Bay HS El Paso, Texas Montwood HS Sulpher Springs, Texas Sulpher Springs HS Destrehan, La. Destrehan HS Grapevine, Texas Tarrant Co. College Indianapolis, Ind. Hargrave [Va.] MA Monticello, Ark. Monticello HS Little Rock, Ark. Pulaski Academy Louisville, Ky. Trinity HS Athens, Ala. Tanner HS Hallsville, Texas Hallsville HS Waco, Texas Reicher HS Havana, Fla. East Gadsden HS Springdale, Ark. Harber HS Rockwall, Texas Rockwall HS Tallahassee, Fla. N Florida Christian Nashville, Ark. UCA N Little Rock, Ark. NLittle Rock HS Bakersfield, Calif. College of the Sequoias N Little Rock, Ark. N Little Rock HS Kingwood, Texas Kingwood HS Harrison, Ark. Harrison HS Springdale, Ark. Springdale HS Winnie, Texas East Chambers HS New Iberia, La. Navarro Junior Coll Arlington, Texas Ft. Worth CDS Springdale, Ark. Shiloh Christian HS Springdale, Ark. Northwest Ark. CC Houston, Texas Westfield HS Edmond, Okla. NE Okla. A&M Stafford, Va. Colonial Forge HS Searcy, Ark. Arkansas State Little Rock, Ark. Cen Ark Christian HS Tulsa, Okla. Union HS Greenwood, Ark. Greenwood HS St. Louis, Mo. St. Louis Univ HS West Helena, Ark. Central HS Cabot, Ark. Cabot HS Warren, Ark. Warren HS Memphis, Tenn. Whitehaven HS Camden, Ark. Fairview HS80

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| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA September 25, 2010

The Lowdown

Larryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

LOWDOWN

Larry Burton

Alabama to Start the Meat of the Schedule

enn as two wins in the books so far this year. One State seemed to be an easier task than most thought, and Alabama has disposed of the other, weaker, opponents it has faced with the completeness that they were supposed to. Now it faces an SEC opponent as the beginning of the meat of the schedule. This game against Arkansas will show not only Nick Saban, but the college football world, if Alabama is indeed on track to repeat as national champions. They are truly facing a team that could upset them and one that can and will test a new defensive secondary. For Alabama to be successful in this game, the Tide must watch for three important things: Alabama must dominate time of possession and keep a dangerous Ryan Mallett on the sidelines; a defense that only has two sacks this season must pressure Mallett enough to throw his timing off and force some bad throws; and when Mallet has time and gets off throws, all those new faces and inexperience on secondary must be able to cover it. These three things are the keys to the game. Everyone knows Alabama can and will score against Arkansas, but can Arkansas keep pace with the scores Alabama will put up? Many feel they can. Therefore the three keys must happen. Marcell Dareus is back, and that should help with the pressure the Tide will be able to exert. Also look for Kirby Smart to throw in more blitzes to keep him off balance. With Ingram back in the fold, the running game of Alabama could indeed hold the ball for

long drives, but they must be able to finish those drives with touchdowns and not settle for field goals. And lastly, the young men in the defensive secondary will have to grow up quickly. This game could determine how the rest of season will go against equally gifted passing teams. Even a close win could shake the confidence of the young group, which could affect it in future games. However, holding Mallet and company in check could give them the confidence to finally shake not only the mistrust of the media, but the worries that Alabama fans still have in these young men. For Alabama to not just win this game, but to gain that confidence, they should have at least one sack, five hurries and at least four pass break-ups. Should they get an interception or two to boot, that would indeed be icing on the cake. They could get those chances for interceptions with the blitz packages, sure to be thrown into this game, that really haven't been utilized by the Tide in any great numbers so far this season. Look for at least four jailhouse-type blitzes to be thrown at Mallet in this game. Should all or most of these things happen, look for the Tide to do very well and come out on top. The more of these that happen, the better the win will be. Whether or not you take time to count them, you can be sure that these are things that Saban will be counting at the game, counting again when he watches the film, and talking about when he addresses the team. touchdownalabama.net |

Pro Connections

Rolando Is

RAIDER-READY

Time With the Tide is Preparation For the Pros Jessica Temple

t eighth overall pick in the 2010 draft, Rolando McClain was the first Alabama player to move into the NFL this year. The 6-foot-3-inch, 255-pound McClain was selected by the Oakland Raiders and is already seeing playing time at the pro level. McClain, from Decatur, Ala., was the top linebacker in the nation last year, earning the Butkus Award, and the Tide defense as a whole ranked fourth in the country. He was a unanimous first team All-American selection and was a semifinalist for both the Lombardi Award and the Bednarik Award. He had a career-best 105 tackles, including 53 unassisted, in 2009. He delivered seven of his tackles inside the red zone, with two on goal line stands. He ranked third in the nation in stops for loss, with 14.5 for losses of 63 yards, the most on the team. He also deflected four passes and intercepted two others for 21 yards in returns, had four sacks and caused one fumble. Opponents were held to just 163 yards and no touchdowns on

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA September 25, 2010

the ground, as the Tide finished second in rush defense with 87.67 yards per game. Overall, he started 37 of 41 games in three seasons at UA, totaling 275 tackles, eight sacks, five interceptions and 31.5 tackles for a loss before moving on to Oakland. All that experience is paying off in the pros. “The speed [in the NFL] is not that much of a difference [from] playing in the SEC, especially at Alabama,” McClain said. His new coach agrees that McClain came in well-prepared. “He is very well schooled, so when he came here he had an understanding of the game which is unique,” Raiders coach Tom Cable said of McClain during training camp over the summer. “But the most impressive thing…is his retention. His ability to come to camp and start right from day one and get us lined up and adjusted. He has a great feel for that, and naturally he just has control.” Cable has compared McClain to “a coach on the field” and said that he “controlled the entire defense.” McClain attributes that leadership to his time under PHOTO BY RAIDERS.COM

Alabama’s Nick Saban. “A lot of my teammates [at UA] called me ‘Coach Saban on the field’ or a bigger, stronger, faster Coach Saban,” he explained. “In order for that [complicated 3-4] defense [that Saban ran] to succeed, you need that smart guy on the field. I was that guy for him.” Cable is also impressed with the maturity of McClain, the youngest player on the squad at 21, which he attributes in part to the player’s experience with the Crimson Tide. “I see a lot of things that make me feel like he is a little more mature beyond his years, his age in terms of being a football player. You don’t see too many [rookies] like that. You see guys that are really talented, particularly those guys that you draft early like that. But they all seem to have a process they go through. For him I think he’s a head of it a little bit because of his background.” McClain agrees that he is ready to be a leader on the Raiders field, but knows it will take some adjustments before he can fulfill the role. “Just like when I was a freshman at Alabama, it takes time, you have to grow on guys,” he told Greg Papa, the Raider’s radio play-by-play announcer. “You just can’t come in and start demanding stuff. They are going to respect you and then they are going to respect you as a leader. It comes with time. I have a great group of veteran guys in front of me so I’m going to let them do their thing and I’m going to do my thing and I’m not going to push it. I know that eventually, whether it’s this year or the following year, everybody will know who’s the true leader.” The Raiders have decided to put that maturity and leadership ability to good use already. McClain will wear a microphoned

helmet this season, so he will be in charge of relaying play instructions to the defensive line. “It’s something different,” McClain said. “I thought he [defensive coordinator John Marshall] was just going to signal the play in like usual and all the sudden I hear this loud screechy noise, I was like, ‘What is this?’. It was something different, but also something I like. You don’t have to worry about him getting the signal in or calling it…you’re ready.” McClain’s preparation comes not just from talent, practice and experience, but from studying film as well. “I watched a little bit of film from last year...if everybody is not doing their job on a particular play then that’s when you get the long runs,” he observed. “I think everybody just being accountable for their own job [will help] and we’ll be just fine.” “He does study but he has a great feel of where he needs to be,” Cable said. “He is a good communicator. He sees where the play starts and enables him to get himself in the position to get underneath those balls.” In his debut game in black and silver, McClain proved that he was ready to play at the next level. He racked up six tackles, including four solos, in the 13-38 loss to the Tennessee Titians and has impressed his new coach thus far. “I’ve seen great awareness, great speed to the ball; I’ve seen excellent pass defense; I’ve seen a guy who is around the ball in the run game,” Cable said of McClain. “His recognition, the speed of it, getting to the ball has been excellent. And in the pass defense I think he has been more than we thought.” “As he grows, learning the NFL and what the game is about at this level he’s just going to get better and better,” Cable predicted.

“His new coach agrees that McClain came in well-prepared.”

PHOTO BY TONY GONZALES

touchdownalabama.net |

1 2 3

4 5

Before the nickname "Crimson Tide" was first used in 1907, the Alabama football team was frequently called the_____________. a. Thin Red Line b. Big Bold Red

c. Crimson Varsity d. Crimson Line

According to the Crimson Tide fight song, "Yea Alabama!," the team is_________. a. "the greatest in the land" b. "the victors of the south" c. "Dixie's football pride" d. "the envy of them all"

How many games did Alabama win in that decade? a. 68 c. 103 b. 85 d. 121 Alabama won the 2006 Cotton Bowl over Texas Tech, 13-10, with a last-second_________. a. interception return c. goal-line stand b. field goal d. hail Mary

The winningnest decade in Alabama history and one of the most seccessful ever in college football was the _________. a. 1920's b. 1940's

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Recruit of the Week

The Long Way Home Jennifer Gorham

hile many 2011 recruits are coming in from high schools around the country, Quinton Dial is one of two verbally-committed recruits coming from a community college. He will be joining the Tide from East Mississippi Community College. In high school he was a defensive end at ClayChalkville High School. Dial is originally from Pinson, Ala., and is coming back to his home state to play for the Crimson Tide. He is a towering 6-feet-6-inches and weighs in at 325 pounds. This heavyweight can bench 400 pounds and squat 535. Rivals.com has him ranked at 5.8 with four stars and number 14 on the junior college top 50. The defensive end verbally committed to the Tide on Feb. 12, 2010, by Sal Sunseri. However, this is not the first time Dial has committed to the University. In June of 2008 he verbally committed, but his academic record fell under par. In 2009 Dial told al.com that he was going to do what it takes to get to Bama and that he has to deal with his past. The earliest he would be able to join the team would be in January of 2011. “It [going to junior college] is frustrating, but it is something I have got to do and I am going to do it,” Dial confessed. Dial has improved his grades and is on his way to Bama next season. He is once and for all going to roll with the Tide. As of right now he is a redshirt sophomore on the Lions’ defensive line. Since Dial is redshirted this season, he will have three seasons ahead of him at Bama. The coaches didn’t play a part in Dial’s decision to attend community college, according to al.com. It was his idea and he has followed through with his plan. "They [the coaches] didn't really say anything," he said. "I made this decision. They didn't make it. I am going to play one season there and then I will redshirt the other season. Knowing that I am doing all that to get back to Alabama will help me get through it all." In 2009 his high school coach Jerry Hood commented to al.com about Dial’s grades and college choices.

PHOTOS FROM SPRINGFIELD NEWS-SUN

Quinton Dial

"Quinton is a great kid," Hood said. "We've had a lot of people investigate a lot of scenarios for him because it looks like his academics are coming up a little short." Dial was Bama bound all the way, regardless of the top-notch offers he received in high school. He had offers from Auburn, Clemson, Marshall, Tennessee, Florida and Central Florida, but verbally committed to Alabama in June of 2008. The Alabama Sports Writers Association named him the 2008 Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A Lineman of the Year. Dial is doing all he can to get to the finishing point: Bryant-Denny Stadium. Although this recruit had to take the long way home, he is definitely on his way.

touchdownalabama.net |

Tailgater of the Week

South & Brought Together Through Tailgating North

Jennifer Gorham

hen tailgating on the Quad, home-team and visiting fans alike can browse tent-to-tent and make lifelong friends. Penn State fans couldn’t agree more. Nittany Lion fans had great things to say about their experiences on the Quad. Penn State alumni Fletcher Caulk and Rachael DeRochel commented on their tailgating experience. “Everyone is being super hospitable,” DeRochel said. “The southern hospitality and respect is awesome.” The main difference from tailgating on the Quad and tailgating around Beaver Stadium is that things are more organized on the Quad, according to Caulk. He commented on how Tide fans introduced themselves and let it be known they were welcomed to campus and were appreciated. “I love how nice everyone is,” he admitted. Crimson Tide fans and tailgaters like David Muhlendorf make the trip more enjoyable for

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA September 25, 2010

visiting teams’ fans. When asked if he goes to the games he responded simply enough. “You mean there’s a game?” Muhlendorf is an alumnus of the University of Alabama. He tailgates and attends the games every week. He elaborated on some of his favorite games which include the 1979 Sugar Bowl and snagging the 1992-93 season’s National Championship from the Miami Hurricanes. While most tailgaters share a love of the game, they are there in hopes of meeting with old friends and having a good time. Muhlendorf said that the best thing about tailgating is “old friends and good times.” The rivalry was put aside on this epic gameday and friends were made. Whether tailgaters sported blue and white or crimson and white there was hospitality overflowing and a love of the game was shared by all. PHOTOS BY MATT GASTON

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Recruiting

Offensive

Commitments Mike Parker

Daryl Collins Gadsden, Ala.

Malcolm FacianePicayune, Miss.

ollins is a 6-foot, 190-pound wide receiver commit who had offers from across the country before making his verbal commitment. He will join his former Gadsden teammates Dre Kirkpatrick and Jerrell Harris at the Capstone and should be able to contribute on special teams in some way if he does not redshirt next year. Some of the offers he chose Alabama over include: Miami, LSU, USC, Tennessee, Auburn and Florida State.

Phillip ElyTampa, Fla.

his high school championship-winning quarterback helped Plant High School take the class 5A Florida state championship last year. He threw for 1,850 yards with 20 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions, which garnered him an All-State honorable mention last year. He will graduate in December and enroll at Alabama in January. He has a lot of speed 4.57 forty) to go along with an aboveaverage arm and good decision making. The only thing concerning about Ely is his size 6-foot-1, 185 pounds) and whether he can stay healthy enough to be productive. As far as mechanics and throwing motion, he may be the top quarterback in the country; Phillip’s high school has produced star quarterbacks such as Georgia’s Aaron Murray and Miami transfer Robert Plant, who currently starts for Purdue. Never losing a game yet in high school, he is just the type of quarterback Coach Saban likes: a winner.

| TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA September 25, 2010

monster tight end standing 6-foot-6 and weighing around 265 pounds, Faciane, with his size, will probably specialize in run blocking, but he has very deceptive speed 4.6 forty) and could contribute a lot in passing as well. He committed in April and is rated as a 3-star tight end by Scout.com.

Ryan KellyWest Chester, Ohio

his elite Ohio lineman is projected to be at the center position. At 6-foot-5inches and 285 pounds, he can still make a quick burst off the ball, which sets him apart from other prospects at his position. He is ranked as a 4-star offensive lineman and the number two center in the country by Scout. com. Kelly chose the Tide over such offers as: Florida, Michigan, Tennessee, Boston College and Florida State.

Isaac LuatuaLa Miranda, Calif.

6-foot-3, 295 pound offensive line commitment, Luatua is Nick Saban’s first commitment from the talent-rich state of California. Saban has been recruiting the West Coast for the last two years, so his success with Luatua could be the start of a growing trend. Luatua projects as an offensive guard in college and is able to run a sub-5-second forty yard dash 4.98), while bench pressing 350 pounds and squatting 510 pounds. PHOTOS BY RIVALS.COM

TOP 3

Offensive Targets Marvin ShinnPrichard, Ala.

Columbus, Ga.

hinn is a tall 6-foot-4inch), physical receiver with great hands. He weighs around 190 pounds now but will likely be 200 by the time he arrives. Shinn was one of the most sought-after receivers in the country before making an early commitment in April of 2009, becoming the first of the 2011 class. He had 17 touchdowns last year.

Bradley SylvePort Sulphur, La.

nother of four receiver commitments Alabama has to date, Sylve is a very explosive playmaker and is considered a steal from LSU, who is now pursuing him very hard after neglecting his recruitment early on. Injured last season, Sylve is poised to have a huge senior season if he stays healthy. He was the fastest player in Louisiana before injuring his foot last year. He stands 5-foot-10.5-inches and weighs 175 pounds, running a 4.40 forty.

Danny Woodson Mobile, Ala.

oodson is a 6-foot-2inch, 200-pound receiver that runs a sub-4.5 forty. He knows how to use his body to make space, and can make the tough catches in traffic. Ranked as a 4 star by most ranking services, he had 78 catches for 1,360 yards and 15 touchdowns last season as a junior for LeFlore High School.

Isaiah Crowell

labama has yet to receive a running back commitment in the 2011 class, and Crowell is one of the only top running backs to have not yet committed to another school. He’s 5-foot-11-inches, 210 pounds and runs a 4.43 forty. He has over 50 written offers from around the country but is mainly looking at Georgia and Alabama. He attended the Penn State game and had this to say afterwards: “Coach Saban has told me before that if I came to Alabama, I would be paired up with Trent next year and sharing the load. It is still Alabama and Georgia tied on top. Next week I go to the Georgia-Arkansas game and after that it is really just week-to-week. I am still going to take my official visits and announce on Signing Day.”

Cyrus Kouandijo

Hyattsville, Md.

yrus is the nation’s top offensive tackle prospect. Great size 6-foot-7-inches, 315 pounds) and athletic ability make him a 5-star with all recruiting services. He is the younger brother of the Tide’s 2010-class Arie Kouandjio so there is an advantage there, but he is expected to take his time making a decision and has been quoted saying that his brother will not be a determining factor with his decision. Alabama has not received any offensive tackle commitments for 2011, so the need for Cyrus is as great as any offensive position.

Antonio Richardson

Nashville, Tenn.

ichardson is another offensive tackle prospect who has been highly recruited since his sophomore year. At 6-foot-6-inches and 310 pounds, he has good foot speed and could contribute early. He can bench press over 400 pounds and runs a 5.05 forty. Alabama has been on him for a while and has made a good impression, but Notre Dame has gotten him to take a few visits and appears to have a slight edge over the rest of the country, although he says that all the schools recruiting him are even. It should come down to signing day for Richardson. touchdownalabama.net |

News

Troy Farsoun

Kentucky at Florida 6:00 ESPNU Both Kentucky and Florida come into this game with their undefeated records on the line. Florida is still trying to find an offensive rhythm after losing Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow. Kentucky is coming off of a big game against Akron, as Randall Cobb and quarterback Mark Hartline have helped the Wildcats to their first 3-0 start under new head coach Joker Philips. Florida managed a 31-17 victory over Tennessee, but the Gators still have questions on offense. South Carolina at Auburn 6:45 ESPN South Carolina and Auburn face off at Jordan-Hare Stadium for a classic match up. Steve Spurrier has been showcasing the skills of Marcus Lattimore, a four-star running back from Duncan, South Carolina. The freshman had 97 yards and a touchdown against Furman. Auburn, meanwhile boasts the talent of dual-threat quarterback Cam Newton. Newton struggled against Clemson, however, completing only 50% of his passes and throwing two picks in a wild win in overtime. Georgia at Mississippi State 6:00 FSN The Mississippi State Bulldogs will be looking to rebound after suffering an 11th straight loss to the LSU Tigers. Georgia comes into this game after suffering a heart-breaking loss to Ryan Mallet and the No. 12 Arkansas Razorbacks. Both teams are 1-2 overall, and have yet to defeat an SEC opponent. Quarterback Aaron Murray is struggling to take over at the starting position, while Mississippi State's Chris Relf and Tyler Russell have yet to find a rhythm in Dan Mullen's offense.

Florida’s starting SL Chris Rainey is out indefinitely. The junior was arrested for stalking his ex-girlfriend and faces a felony charge of aggravated stalking. Georgia WR A.J. Green’s suspension for selling a game jersey has been upheld by the NCAA. He will miss his fourth game this week. The junior has led the Bulldogs in receiving the last two years and is a preseason All-American wideout in 2010. Richard Murphy, senior RB at LSU is questionable this week following a hamstring injury that has kept him out of three straight games. He also tore his ACL last season. Arkansas Junior DT Zach Stadther is questionable against Alabama. The returning started has missed all three games with an undisclosed injury. He recorded 42 tackles last season. Redshirt freshman Chris Burnette is questionable for Mississippi State. The Georgia center has been out with a concussion all season.

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